Religious persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community continues worldwide. In Pakistan, Blasphemy Laws are being used specially against Ahmadis to harass them. Millions of religious minority are under threat to be falsely implicated in any such case on the basis of personal enmity with a punishment from 3 years RI to death. This blog was created to update Pakistani visitors of www.thepersecution.org, access to which was blocked by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority without any reason.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

The 15-year jail term handed to convicted terrorist Abu Bakar Bashir this week is sparking debate, with analysts suggesting it was kept light to avoid angering the radicals who revere him.

The prosecution had pushed for a life term for the 72-year-old.

But analyst Mardigu Wowiek Prasantyo, who helps the police interrogate terrorist suspects, said the lighter sentence was seen as having “the best outcome for society.”

Bashir was sentenced on Thursday for helping to plan and fund a militant training camp, where men learnt to use weapons to attack Indonesian government officials and foreigners. Police destroyed the camp in February last year.

While Bashir does not head any of the disparate radical cells responsible for recent attacks against religious minorities in Indonesia, fundamentalists see him as a spiritual leader.

Though the courts have charged individual perpetrators of violence, the government has shied away from clamping down on fundamentalist groups for fear of being portrayed as anti-Muslim.

They have not tried to disband radical groups such as the Islamic Defenders Front, whose members have attacked moderate figures and members of the minority Ahmadiyah sect. Some experts fear Indonesia could become like Pakistan — a society struggling with intolerance, brewing terrorism and religious vigilantism.

Bashir, who looks frail but is healthy, has been jailed twice before - once for his complicity in the 2002 Bali bombings and once for the 2003 Marriott Hotel bomb attacks in Jakarta.

He has not openly condoned acts of terrorism but has said he supports paramilitary training as Muslims need to learn how to defend themselves.

This admission — along with testimony from men involved in the Aceh training camp — helped prosecutors to nail him during the four-month trial.

One of the prosecutors said on Thursday that judges had been too lenient. Bashir was proven to have incited people to commit acts of terrorism, a crime punishable by death, and to have supported the use of violence to inflict harm, which can bring life imprisonment.

“But the judges had to consider the wider feelings of society,” said the prosecutor, who did not want to be named.

“It seems they don’t just follow the law book exactly. They make decisions after taking into account all the relevant aspects.”

Analysts do agree on a few things though. One is that Bashir should be isolated while in prison so he cannot influence others.

On Friday, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said Bashir was still in police custody in his own cell and would be moved to a prison only at a later date.

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Indonesian military backs religious persecution

Footage shot by the ABC shows Indonesian military and police officers meeting with Muslim clerics to plan persecution of an Islamic sect.

Official Blasphemy by Pakistani Authorities

Pakistani authorities removed Kalima and Names of Allah from Ahmadiyya Mosque in Lathianwala near Faisalabad, Punjab. Approximately 300 Policemen and Elite Force commandos raided Ahmadiyya houses on 10th August, 2009 to commit the shameless act of Official Blasphemy having “NO FEAR” of Allah, the Almighty.

Mob attack on Ahmadiyah Muslims in Umbulan Village, Indonesia

A Mob comprising of 1,500 religious fanatics, chanting slogans to destroy Ahmadiyah, attacked a house used by Ahmadiyah members for prayers in Umbulan Village, Cikeusik Sub district, Pandeglang District, Indonesia. About 20 Ahmadiyah followers were present in house when attackers started destroying the house, put various vehicles on fire. Three Ahmadis were brutally beaten to death after they were stripped while five sustained serious injuries. An Ahmadi who managed to save his life by showing his press card recorded this tragic incident.WARNING: This video contains some scenes of extreme violence, not fit for viewing by children or persons with weak hearts. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. ________________________